Kupwara, Jun 19 (KNO): The erratic weather conditions have left the farmers in north Kashmir's Kupwara district in a tizzy. The unseasonal inclement weather conditions and the regular downpour have left them in a state of worry fearing for the harvest.
Those associated with agricultural activities are currently facing distress due to seasonal changes, particularly regarding their paddy saplings. They claim that the saplings have suffered significant damage as a result of continuous rains and hailstorms.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) farmers said that the crops have suffered significant damage due to the unseasonal changes in weather conditions. “Paddy, Vegetable crops, Bee Keeping, and others have suffered damage.”
A huge population of the border district of Kupwara relies on agricultural activities. People associated with agricultural activities remain intact with the work every year to prepare their fields and keep them safe from any external harm.
Apart from agriculture, they said orchards have also suffered immense damage due to continuous rainfall and gutsy winds followed by intensive hailstorms. “Erratic weather conditions have caused a major dent in the annual agricultural activities. Given the conditions either farmers have given up the work or deferred by at least 20 to 25 days to see if Weather allows them to undertake any agricultural activity,” they said.
They are worried even at this early stage due to the weather patterns, including untimely rains, hailstorms, and extreme temperature fluctuations that would impact the annual production.
The unseasonal rains and snowfall have triggered concerns among the farmers and orchardists in the district. “Farmers are facing immense challenges given the concerns about paddy saplings. The orchardists are concerned about damage to fruit crops and also fear that there would be premature fruit drop,” they said.
The unseasonal rains have forced farmers to delay the paddy transplant. “By the last week of May the paddy samplings would be transplanted, but this year even in the third week they are not able to undertake it,” farmers said while expressing their concerns.
The unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and snowfall are believed to cause a huge impact on the annual production. “It will leave farmers and orchardists in deep worry, given that a lot of hard work and money is put into it to see a good harvest,” they said.
The agricultural land is very wet due to which the activities have been halted.
According to the data, compared to previous years Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed excess rainfall by 24% in May alone.
Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Gurdeep Singh told KNO that the unseasonal rains and erratic weather conditions have affected the agricultural sector in the district. “Paddy saplings have suffered. Vegetable corp due to cold conditions to a larger extent are affected. Also, the continuous rains have impacted the Bee Keeping,” he said.
He said that there will be an impact on the annual agricultural production for many reasons, courtesy weather conditions.
“Temperature fluctuation is a concern for agricultural activities. But now the temperature has shown an improvement. It does affect the nurseries that cater to the agricultural sector,” the CAO said.
He also informed that 80 per cent of the population in Kupwara district is associated directly and indirectly with agricultural activities—(KNO)